Rod Stewart’s 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400 “Periscopio” Is For Sale

This 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400 “Periscopio” was delivered new to Rod Stewart while he was touring in Australia. He developed such a sentimental bond with the car that he kept it in his private collection for over 25 years.

Stewart would ship this car from Australia to his home in California for many years, and would then later have it shipped to his home in Britain. He had the car customized in his ownership however these modifications have now even reversed back to original factory specification.

Fast Facts – The Lamborghini Countach LP400

• The Lamborghini Countach LP400 “Periscopio” was so named for the periscope system that was integrated into the roof of the car to improve its otherwise woeful rearward visibility. This periscope system was designed by Donnelly Mirrors who had originally developed it for an Experimental Safety Vehicle concept car.
• The LP400 was the first production iteration of the Lamborghini Countach, and many feel it was the purest form of Marcello Gandini’s original vision for the design from his time working at Bertone. Gandini had also designed the earlier Lamborghini Miura which many reference today as the first true production supercar.
• The Countach was given a complex steel space frame chassis and a revised version of the Bizzarrini-designed Lamborghini V12 with a displacement of 3,929cc and 375 bhp giving the car a top speed of just under 290 km/h (180 mph).
• The Countach LP400 “Periscopio” you see here is one of only 157 of this model variant made, it was delivered new to Rod Steward who kept it for 25 years after driving it in Australia, the United States, and Britain. It’s now being offered for sale by RM Sotheby’s.

The “Periscopio” Lamborghini Countach LP400

Perhaps the most famous shortcoming of the Lamborghini Countach was the almost total lack of rearward visibility. This was solved rather cleverly with the LP400 by fitting a periscope system in the ceiling that used mirrors to give the driver a better idea of way lay behind. As a result of this the model was nicknamed the “Periscopio” – Italian for periscope.

The sharp wedge styling of the Countach was an evolution of earlier Marcello Gandini designs like the Alfa Romeo Carabo and the Lancia Stratos Zero. It would prove hugely influential and it still sets the tone for modern day Lamborghinis.

The project to create the Lamborghini Countach had been launched to create a worthy successor to the Lamborghini Miura – a car that many recognize as the first true production supercar.

Whereas the Miura had its mid-mounted V12 and transmission fitted transversely the Countach went with a longitudinal orientation, and unusually the transmission was fitted in front of the engine for better weight distribution.

The V12 used in the Countach was an upgraded version of the Bizzarrini-designed Lamborghini V12 now with a displacement of 3,929cc and power output of 375 bhp at 8,000 rpm, giving the car a top speed of just under 290 km/h (180 mph).

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a gated 5-speed manual transmission in traditional Lamborghini style. Interestingly the transmission was mounted between the seats and the driveshaft passed backward through the engine’s sump to the differential.

The interior of the LP400 was well-appointed, with leather seats, ample instrumentation, and all the refinements you might need. It could be used for touring if you didn’t mind the minimal storage space for luggage.

Interestingly the complex steel space frame chassis used on the LP400 was made by Marchesi in Italy and then delivered to the Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata where the car was built around it.

The body consisted of multiple unstressed aluminum panels and a fiberglass and aluminum panel was used as the floor panel. Inside, the cabin was opulently fitted out providing a GT car-like experience, though there was relatively little in the way of cargo space for bags or luggage.

The high chassis sills meant that normal doors wouldn’t be suitable, rather than using gullwing doors as Mercedes had done with their 300 SL it was decided to use scissor doors that opened up and forward – this design feature would be copied relentlessly by some of Lamborghini’s rivals for decades to come.

The LP400 remained in production from 1974 to 1978. Due to the handmade nature of the car just 157 had been made and today they remain among the most collectible of the series production versions of the Countach.

Power was provided by the Bizzarrini-designed Lamborghini V12 with a displacement of 3,929cc and an output of 375 bhp. It also gave the model its name – LP400 stands for longitudinale posteriore, meaning “longitudinal rear” for the engine’s orientation, and 400 for 4000cc.

Rod Stewart’s 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400

As you’ll remember from the introduction above, this LP400 is a little more special than most as it was bought new by Rod Stewart and kept by him at various times on three continents for over 25 years.

He took delivery while touring in Australia, then later had the car shipped back to one of his homes in California. Over the years he had a number of modifications made to the car, he had it converted from a coupe to a targa top and he had a full wide-body kit installed.

Eventually Stewart sold the car on in 2002, the new owner had a left-hand drive conversion done and they had the engine overhauled. It was later sold in 2013 to a new owner who took the decision to convert the car back to original factory specification – a choice that will have pleased the purists.

The complex steel spaceframe chassis required high sills, too high for normal doors, and so a pair of front opening scissor doors were developed which became a trademark of the car.

With the body returned to a tin-top and the wide body kit professionally reversed the car returned to its original form.

Later in 2022 it was given further restoration work by Lamborghini Polo Storico – the official Lamborghini division that specializes in the restoration and preservation of classic Lamborghinis.

The car is now scheduled to roll across the action block with RM Sotheby’s on the 20th of May with a price guide of $1,050,000 – $1,150,000 USD. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can visit the listing here.

Images courtesy of Maximilian Vogl ©2023 RM Sotheby’s

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There’s A Rare Kellison J-5 For Sale On eBay

This is a Kellison J-5, a rare low-production American sports car that debuted in 1960. It’s not known exactly how many were made but numbers were low, and they’re becoming increasingly sought after by collectors.

The Kellison J-5 shown here is based on a 1961 Corvette chassis, it’s fitted with a 348 cubic inch V8 sending power back through a 4-speed manual transmission to a Chevy rear end. The masterful paintwork by Phil Leonard is said to be worth $30,000 USD on its own, and the car is being sold out of San Martin, California on eBay.

Fast Facts – The Kellison J-5

• Jim Kellison was born in Seattle before moving to California where he joined the burgeoning hot rod scene. He joined the USAF in his late teens and after discharge he started his own body and fender shop at the age of 22.
• Kellison would spend the rest of his life as an entrepreneur in the automotive world, first repairing cars before branching out into car design himself, and selling fiberglass body kits as well as complete cars.
• The most famous cars built by Jim were the Kellison J series vehicles, they ran from J1 through to J-6 – their styling was remarkably advanced for the era and well ahead of their time.
• The Kellison J-5 debuted in the early 1960s featuring a distinctive Jim Kellison-design body with buyers choosing to use their own chassis or buy the Chuck Manning-design chassis offered by Kellison.

The Kellison Car Company

James “Jim” Kellison, a former Korean War fighter pilot and engineer, founded Kellison Engineering in the late 1950s. With a keen eye for design and a love for automobiles, he sought to create sports cars that combined engineering, speed, and style. His background in aeronautics and engineering fueled his passion for car design, culminating in the creation of his first production kit car, the Kellison J-4.

This is Jim Kellison with one of his creations. Many Kellison J series cars went racing and achieved excellent results in the early 1960s.

The Kellison J-4 was essentially just a fiberglass body, with doors, a hood, floorpan, driveshaft tunnel, inner fender panels, firewall, and a dashboard. The rest of the car had to be sourced by the resourceful owner, who would typically opt for a rolling chassis from a production sports car of the day.

Other models would soon follow including the J-2 and J-3 which could be fitted to the chassis of smaller European cars including those from MG, Triumph, Austin-Healey, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Roadster versions of the J-4 were also released which proved popular, and Kellison began offering their own in-house designed chassis.

The first Kellison chassis was a simple ladder frame design with beam axles front and rear, this design was quickly succeeded by a more advanced tubular steel X-frame design that offered independent front suspension – often sourced from period Chevrolet cars.

Kellison cars quickly became a force to be reckoned with in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) sanctioned races and in the burgeoning world of drag racing. They could be built exceedingly light, and if paired with a good chassis and suspension, decent brakes, and a punchy engine they were more than capable of embarrassing the established American and European marques.

Most Kellison bodies were sold via advertisements like this in the back of car magazines in the late 1950s and 1960s.

The J series cars would remain in production from the late 1950s well into the 1960s. Kellison would diversify his product line to include Formula V cars, boats, dune buggies, hot tubs, and more.

The Kellison J-5

The Kellison J-5 was released as the successor to the J-4 in 1960, it had very similar styling to the earlier car which made a lot of sense given how popular the J-4 had been, but the wheelbase was extended out to 102″ to offer a little more interior room.

Many J-5 owners opted to use the Corvette chassis and running gear as they could be bought relatively cheaply, and they were originally designed for the specific purpose of having a fiberglass body fitted on top.

Using a Corvette donor car also meant that you already had the brakes, suspension, and drivetrain in place, and the process of installing the body, then plumbing everything in could be done in a matter of days by experienced builders.

The interior of this car has just the bare essentials: a steering wheel, a shifter, three pedals, and some gauges to make sure you don’t blow the engine.

The J-5 would later be succeeded by the Kellison J6, which was another evolution on the pioneering Jim Kellison-body design that had first debuted back in 1957 on the J-4.

Surviving examples of original Kellison cars are now relatively rare, though they do come up for sale from time to time. The car shown in this article is by far the tidiest example we’ve seen in recent memory.

The 1961 Kellison J-5 Shown Here

The car you see here is a Kellison J-5 that’s based on 1961 Chevrolet Corvette underpinnings. It’s powered by a 348 cubic inch V8 which is bored 60 over and topped with three double barrel carburetors.

The engine is a Chevrolet 348 V8 topped with three double barrel carburetors, power is sent back through a 4-speed manual T10 transmission to the Tri-Five Chevrolet rear end.

Power is sent back through a 4-speed T10 manual transmission to a Tri-Five Chevrolet rear end with a 3:55 final drive ratio. Inside the car things are relatively spartan as you may have expected, it has a full roll cage, two bomber-style seats, and a dashboard with Stewart Warner gauges.

The car rides on Torque Thrust alloy wheels and it has an incredible paint job by Phil Leonard of Syrarum Color Studio that’s said to be worth $30,000 on its own. The eBay listing notes that the car has won multiple awards for its paintwork, and that it’s currently part of a large collection.

If you’d like to read more about this unusual Kellison J-5 or place a bid you can visit the listing here on eBay. At the time of writing there have been just under 20 bids, and it’s being sold out of San Martin, California.

Images courtesy of eBay Motors

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The Impossibly Beautiful 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico

This is one of just 17 examples of the 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico that were made, and interestingly this is the car that was featured on the cover of Car and Driver magazine in April of 1963 as a prototype.

The Ferrari 400 Superamerica was produced from 1959 to 1964 across two distinct series as one of Ferrari’s major flagship models. They offered class-leading power and performance, elegant styling, and ample interior comfort making them ideal as grand turismos.

Fast Facts – The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico

• The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico was a special version of the Ferrari 400 Superamerica coupe with bodywork designed by Aldo Brovarone – each was built by hand at Pinin Farina. The design and coachbuilding house would become Pininfarina (all one word) from 1962 onwards.
• The Ferrari 400 Superamerica series had first appeared in 1959 as the direct successor to the earlier 410 America. The 400 series cars featured all new body designs, almost all from Pinin Farina. Body styles including coupe, spider, cabriolet, and aerodynamic coupé versions.
• Whereas the earlier 410 Superamerica had been powered by the larger Lampredi-designed V12 engine the 400 Superamerica series vehicles were powered by the smaller, lighter, but no less powerful Colombo V12 – the same engine used in many of the most important Ferraris of the era including the 250 GTO and the 250 GT SWB.
• The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico was a special version of the series that was evolved from a car that had been built at Pinin Farina and displayed on their stand at the Turin Salon in November of 1960. The Aerodinamico featured sleek and highly aerodynamic coupe bodywork, one example was used by Battista “Pinin” Farina as his own personal car in the early 1960s.

The Ferrari 400 Superamerica

The 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica remains one of the most desirable road cars produced by Ferrari in that crossover period between the late 1950s and into the 1960s. The 400 Superamerica had succeeded the earlier 410 Superamerica, production numbers were exceedingly limited, with only the wealthiest of clientele parking them on their driveways.

The interior of the Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico is beautifully appointed, it was one of the most desirable grand tourers of the era and thanks to its Laycock de Normanville overdrive unit it could cruise happily on motorways for hours on end.

We all know of the legendary Ferrari 250 GT cars from the same time period, the 250 GT Lusso, 250 GT SWB, and the 250 GTO likely being the most revered. The Superamerica Ferraris were more costly and rarer than almost all of their 250 GT counterparts, with 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico production totaling just 17 cars compared to the 36 examples of the 250 GTO.

The earlier 410 Superamerica vehicles had been powered by the prodigious Lampredi-designed Ferrari V12 engine, essentially a big block alternative to the smaller and more compact Colombo V12 which was used extensively by Ferrari in many of their cars, including the 250 GT series.

A 4.0 liter version of the Colombo V12 was used for the 400 Superamerica, it’s where the “400” in the model name came from, breaking with Ferrari tradition that typically used the displacement of a single cylinder in cubic centimeters.

Though the engine was smaller than the 5.0 liter Lampredi V12 it produced no less power, with both turning out 335 bhp though the Colombo did achieve peak power a little later in the rev range at 7,000 rpm versus the Lampredi’s 6,000 rpm.

The design of the 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico was based on a show car created by Pinin Farina and displayed on their stand at the Turin Salon in November of 1960.

Power was sent back through a 4-speed manual transmission and all cars had a Laycock de Normanville overdrive unit for more relaxed highway cruising. Suspension was independent up front and a live axle in the rear, and disc brakes were installed at all four corners.

When ordering your 400 Superamerica you could choose from a number of body styles including coupe, spider, cabriolet, and aerodynamic coupé versions. Almost all were designed at Pinin Farina (which became Pininfarina later in 1962).

The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico

The 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico is arguably the most special of the 400 Superamerica series. It has its origins in the show car that had been built at Pinin Farina and displayed on their stand at the Turin Salon in November of 1960.

Power is provided by a 4.0 liter Colombo V12 producing 335 bhp at 7,000 rpm – a remarkably high figure for the time.

This show car had so enamored Battista “Pinin” Farina that he used it as his own personal car for a time in the early 1960s. The car was given a handbuilt body characterized by its elegant flowing lines and fastback rear – all designed to make it as aerodynamic as possible.

It was based on the SWB (short wheelbase) chassis which resulted in a strict two seat layout, rather than a 2+2, though there was ample luggage space in the rear for touring the Continent. Much like its siblings in the 400 Superamerica series the Aerodinamico was built on a chassis consisting on a pair of cross-braced longitudinal steel tubes with the body fitted atop.

Suspension is independent up front with double wishbones, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear end has a live axle on semi-elliptical leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers, and disc brakes are used on all four corners – not a common feature in the early 1960s.

Due to the fact that just 17 examples of the Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico were made the cars are now among the most desirable Ferraris from the period, with values stretching well into the seven figures.

The 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico Shown Here

The car you see here may well be one of the most famous examples of the Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico, as it’s the famous “prototype” featured on the cover of Car and Driver magazine in April of 1963 along with a feature length article.

The styling of the body was specifically designed for optimal aerodynamics, with sleek lines and a fastback rear.

The first owner of this car was Emanuele Rivetti who took delivery in November 1961, by 1962 the car had been sold again through Ferrari’s American dealer network to wealthy oil magnate John Mecom, Jr of Houston, Texas.

The car was later sold on and in recent years it has benefitted from a number of upgrades and refinements including a Kevlar clutch lining, a set of triple Weber 40 DCZ/6 carburetors, and Koni shock absorbers.

It was originally finished in Blu Lancia over light blue leather by the factory, it now has a newer Connolly leather interior. Over $230,000 USD worth of restoration work has been completed by marque specialists since 2014 and importantly the car carries Ferrari Classiche certification, thanks to its original numbers-matching body, chassis, differential, engine, and gearbox.

This 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico is now due to roll across the auction block with RM Sotheby’s on the 20th of May at the Villa Erba. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can visit the listing here, it has a price guide of $3,250,000 – $3,800,000 USD.

Images: Remi Dargegen ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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“Vandalf” Is For Sale – A 1970s Dodge Tradesman Custom V8 Van

This customized 1973 Dodge Tradesman B100 is a fantastic example of the vehicles that launched the 1970s van-craze that swept the United States during the decade of disco, feathered hair, and bellbottoms.

Power is provided by a 318 cubic inch V8 sending power back through a 3-speed automatic to the rear wheels. The van has been given a full custom paint job by artist Dirty Donny Gillies of San Francisco, and in the back it has full shag carpeting and a bed platform for overnight stays.

Fast Facts – A Custom 1970s Dodge Tradesman Van

• The Dodge Tradesman, also known as the Dodge B-Series, was introduced in 1964 as a full-size van, built to cater to the needs of small business owners and tradespeople. The first generation featured three engine options: a 170 cubic inch Slant-6, a 225 cubic inch Slant-6, and a 318 cubic inch V8.
• The second generation of the Dodge Tradesman, which debuted in 1971, saw significant updates in terms of styling and performance. The van now featured a unibody design and introduced a new 360 cubic-inch V8 engine option for increased power.
• During the 1970s, the Dodge Tradesman became popular for customization and conversion into recreational vehicles (RVs) and camper vans. This trend, also known as “vannin'”, saw enthusiasts personalize their Tradesman vans with elaborate paint jobs, plush interiors, beds, upgraded sound systems, and some even had a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
• The van you see in this article is a 1973 Dodge Tradesman that’s been given a full paint scheme by artist Dirty Donny Gillies, it has thick shag carpeting in the rear, a bed platform, storage cabinets, and it’s powered by a 318 cubic inch V8.

Vansploitation And The Custom Van Revolution

The 1970s were a time when the flower power vans of the hippie movement were left behind and a new style of van appeared with higher-performance drivetrains, airbrushed fantasy graphics, thick shag carpeting, velour upholstery, and bubble windows in the side.

This Dodge Tradesman looks every part the 1970s-era custom van, it was actually painted and customized much more recently in 2014 by California artist Dirty Donny Gillies.

These new custom vans were so popular across the United States that entirely new genre of cinema was created called Vansploitation, which was largely made up of B-movies in which the van culture of the time was a central plot element.

Many of the vans used started out as commercial vans with flat panel sides that had empty cargo areas behind the front seats. These provided the best (and most affordable) starting point to build what was in essence a minimalist camper van, with a mattress in the back and few other amenities.

This custom van movement actually continued well into the 1980s before interest died down. A couple of decades later the interest in vans skyrocketed once again thanks to the “Vanlife” movement, which saw people setting up vans as cheap campers and taking to the open road for some adventure – often well documented on Instagram and YouTube.

Above Video: “SuperVan” is arguably the most famous example of the Vansploitation genre, it was released in 1977 and it’s classed as an action adventure comedy road movie suitable for family viewing, with a PG rating.

“Vandalf” – The Custom Dodge Tradesman V8 Van Shown Here

The van you see here was named “Vandalf” after the Lord of the Rings wizard Gandalf. The airbrushed artwork on the side of the van includes a mural of a wizard and a galaxy. This vehicle was customized by its former owner, the artist Dirty Donny Gillies of San Francisco in 2014 and he took great care to turn it into a period correct 197s-era custom van.

Once the dome windows had been installed in the sides scoops were added to the hood and roof, and the front spoiler was installed, after this the paintwork was completed. A pair of side exit exhausts were fitted along with a set of Detroit Vintage 15″ wheels front and back fitted with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, and there are chrome bumpers front and back.

With the exterior largely complete attention turned to the interior where a combination of thick shag carpeting and wood paneling was fitted to the walls, floor, and ceiling. A JVC TV was also installed as well as a platform for a double bed over a set of drawers that can be used for additional storage space.

Up front there are two captain’s chairs upholstered in black with a diamond quilt stitched pattern, and the seats have arm rests to keep you comfortable on those longer roads trips.

The octagonal steering wheel suits the van well, and a Dungeons & Dragons style dice has been fitted to the column-mounted shifter in-keeping with the wizard theme. There are a number of other Dungeons & Dragons design elements in the back of the van, and of course there are large “Vandalf” murals on either side of the exterior.

The door panels and front headliner are upholstered to match the seats and the van also has a heater, cupholders, a dice knob on the column-mounted shifter, an eight-track cassette stereo in the dash, and Polk Audio speakers – an equalizer and an Alpine CD stereo are fitted to the overhead console.

An octagon-shaped steering wheel has been installed, an unusual wood-rimmed wheel that would have stopped the presses back in the 1970s, and it still looks vastly nicer to use than Tesla’s ill-fated yoke.

Power is provided by a 318 cubic inch V8 fitted with a two-barrel carburetor, and power is sent back to the rear wheels via a 3-speed automatic transmission. The van has power front disc brakes and drums on the rear, and the front suspension has been lowered to give it the right stance on the road.

It’s now being offered for sale out of Tiburon, California on Bring a Trailer with 66,000 miles shown on the odometer. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can visit the listing here.

In the rear go the van you’ll find thick shag carpeting and wood paneling on the walls, ceiling, and floor, and there’s a platform for a double bed in the back.

Images courtesy of Bring a Trailer.

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